Sam Smith’s Prim Suits and Red High Heels Prove That His Genderless Style Is Wonderfully Undefined

When Sam Smith ascended to the upper strata of pop stardom in 2014 after the release of his debut album In the Lonely Hour, he was more likely to sing the praises of a sophisticated suit than to push boundaries through his self-presentation. Now that he’s back in the spotlight with new singles “Too Good at Goodbyes,” and “Pray,” he’s offering more insights into his personal life. In an interview with The Sunday Times yesterday, Smith revealed that his gender is not fixed—“I feel just as much woman as I am man.”

While he’s known for wearing prim suits and menswear staples like a silky statement shirt with reasonable trousers, Smith claims that his closet wasn’t always filled with slacks and dress shirts. “There was one moment in my life where I didn’t own a piece of male clothing, really,” he said. “I would wear full makeup every day in school, eyelashes, leggings with Dr. Martens, and huge fur coats—for two and a half years.” Smith has recently sported outfits ranging from a clashing printed blazer-and-trousers combo to a jeans-and-T-shirt look that he finished off with a pair of towering platform red heels.

While the recent disclosure may seem to open up lots of sartorial possibilities for the statement-making artist, it’s not yet clear whether Smith intends to bring back some of his old womenswear staples. And it probably shouldn’t matter. Whether this moment will mark a dramatic shift in Smith’s style or embolden others to follow in his fabulous footsteps, his announcement is yet another reminder that one’s gender identity can’t be reduced to one’s choice of clothing.